RAILWAYS STAFF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19308, 8 October 1932, Page 19

RAILWAYS STAFF

REDUCTION OF PERSONNEL. (Special to the “ Herald.”) WELLINGTON, October 7 The total number of staff employed on the New, Zealand railways or* March 31, 1932, including those on works chargeable to capital, was 14,930 as compared ■with 17,806 for the previous year, states the annual report of the Railways Board. The average number actually at work throughout the year was 16,114, as compared with 18,840 the previous year. Of the average number of staff at work during the year 12,528 were permanent and 2402 were casual employees. The average number of men engaged on works chargeable to capital was 738, as compared with 1435 during the previous year. , The report adds: “During the year 37 members of the permanent staff were transferred to other Government departments, 119 resigned, 763 retired on superannuation, 61 died, 143 were dismissed or paid off. Thirty-nine employees were engaged. “Eighty-seven members of the Second Division were promoted to the First Division. "A total of £28,811 was paid undei the Workers Compensation Act during the year to members of the Second Division who suffered injury in the course of their employment.

“In the report for the year ended March 31, 1931, reference was made to the staff adjustments which had been necessary owing to the fall in revenue, and during the past year a continued decline in traffic necessitated the staff position being constantly under review.

“In addition to the reduction in business, capital expenditure was also substantially reduced, owing to the necessity for the curtailment of such expenditure. “Every effort was made to effect, economies by reorganising and amalgamating positions and by withdrawing staff from stations where train services had been curtailed or traffic conditions warranted the reduction. “In the workshops the decline in the amount of repair work and the reduction in the construction of new rol-ling-stock necessitated further staff reductions in that branch, and these were carried out during the year as the circumstances warranted.” The report also states that during the past year the staff in the workshops branch has been reduced because of a reduction in the construction of new rolling-stock and the completion of orders in hand, together with a general reduction in repair work due to the falling-off in traffic. This year 2754 hands were employed in the workshops, as compared with 3673 the previous year. The reduction in the number of men employed and in the .volume of work, undertaken necessitated a readjustment of the clerical and supervisory staffs, and 21 clerical and 40 supervisory positions were abolished.